Most ceramists don’t have a manifesto. Then again, most ceramists are not Jonathan Adler. He is the the partner to Barneys’ creative director Simon Doonan and the maker of retro, kitsch house must-haves. Jonathan Adler’s work is remarkable. Whether a Valley of the Dolls inspired pill dish or one of his decorative fishes, each piece of his work has personality. And they are all so gay.
His manifesto includes some choice words:
We believe that when it comes to decorating, the wife is always right. Unless the husband is gay.
We believe minimalism is a bummer.
We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
We believe in our muses: David Hicks, Alexander Girard, Bonnie Cashin, Hans Coper, Gio Ponti, Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman, Yves Saint Laurent, and Madonna.
We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always.
We believe in infantile, happy emblems like butterflies and hearts.
We believe celebrities should pay full price.
We believe in rustic modernism: Big Sur, A-Frame beach houses, raw beams, and geodesic dome homes.
We believe our designs are award winning even though they’ve never actually won any.
We believe colors can’t clash.
We believe Adler is a genius.
